Electromagnetic regulator.



J. A. COLEMAN.

ELECTROMAGNETIC REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APILB. I916.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l .l. A. COLEMAN.

ELECTROMAGNETIC REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR-8. 1916.

1 ,26 1,906. Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JOHN E... CQLEMAI'I, 0F, CIJEV ELAND, OHIO.

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Specification oi Letters Iiatent. Patented Apia 9, 1918.

Application flied April 8, 1918. 7 Serial Nit 89,885.

To'aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN 'A'. COLEMAN, a citizen of the United'States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain noun netic device for operating valves, dampers, and the like, the same, in its preferred embodiment, being thermostaticallycontrolled and, as herein shown, operatively connected to a valve, which may be that of aheatin apparatus, wherefore the valve, is actuate by changes in temperature, thus automatically regulating the heat produced by the apparatus.

The general object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device of the character above set forth that is positive of action; thatis reliable; that is durable; and that is economical of operation and maintenance. Further and more limited objects of the invention will become apparent as this description proceeds, among which is a peculiar arrangement and cooperation of parts whereby the actuating circuit is broken by and as soon as the valve operating member has performed its function, thereby effecting a material saving in current.

While I have shown a very practical and satisfactory construction of my device, in the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that this embodiment is more or less illustrative,vand that the same may be changed to any extent desired without departing from the spirit of my invention, so long as the modifications remain within the scope of the annexed claims as construed in the light of the prior art.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows my electromagnetic device inperspective, associated with a valve which may be that of a heating apparatus, and electrically coupled, y diagrammatic showing, to a thermostat and battery; Fig. 2 is a front eleva-' tion of the device; Fig. 3 is a central ver-- tical section, the same being taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 shows the device in bottom plan.

As herein illustrated, the device comprises a vertical plate 1 from one side of which a shelf 2 extends horizontally and is braced from the plate by brackets 3. These, parts may be made conveniently of wood, and preferably so, because of its 'cheapness and its insulating properties. Secured to the upper end of the plate 1 is a vertical flange of an angle bracket 4, and to the underneath side of the horizontal flange of the bracket there is attached an electromagnet 5. An armature plate 6 is movably supported beyond the lower end of the magnet, by rods 7 which depend from the bracket 4 alongside the magnet, and have their lower ends passing freely through holes in the armature plate and provided with nuts 8, whereby the armature plate is prevented from withdrawal from the rods and is thereby made ad ustable toward and from the magnet.

A rod 10 is attached to the armature plate 6 and extends downward through a notch 11 in the shelf 2, and at its lower end is provided with a fork 12 between the branches of which is pivoted one end of a rocker arm 13-that is fulcrumed upon a pin 14, carried between the branches of abifurcated hanger 15, depending from the underneath side of the shelf 2. The outer end of the rocker arm may be connected, by links 16, to the free end .of an operating handle or lever 17 of a valve 18, said valve being a pipe 19 that is intended, in the present instance, to represent a gas supply pipe of a furnace or other heating plant- (not shown). It is obvious that my device may be employed in numerous other connections, and that dampers, switches or controlling contrivances' of various sorts might be substituted for the valve 18. Secured to its underneath side and extending longitudinally of the shelf 2 is a strip 20 of spring metal, the end of the strip adjacent the plate 1 projecting upward through the notch 11 and into proximity to the forward edge of the armatured plate the strip 20. However, the present construction is highly desirable, as it is cheap of construction and there is no chance for a break in the electrical connections, be tween the vertical end of the strip and the forward end thereof.

A reasonably stiff metal strap 25 is secured to the forward edge of the bracket t and depends with its lower end in juxtaposition to the upper end of the strip 20. A screw 26 is adjustable through the lower end of the strap 25 its inner end constitutes a contact point for cooperation with the strip 20. Gas end of the winding of the magnet 5 has connection, through the wire T, with the upper end of the strap 25. A bracket 29 rises from the shelf 2 to one side of the notch 11 and a spring arm 30 extends laterally from the upper end of the bracket 29 to the rear of the insulated head 21 of the strip 20. The spring plate 30 constitutes the armature of an electromagnet 31 that is supported in a horizontal position by a bracket 32 which rises from the shelf 2.

A member 3%, of suitable conducting ma terial, is attached to one of the forward corners of the shelf 2 by having its shank 35 extended upward through an aperture of the shelf and clamped therein by a nut 36.. The upper end of the shank constitutes a binding post to which the thumb nut 37 is applied. A spring contact plate 38 has its inner end secured to the end of the member 34 and extends horizontally therefrom over the rocker arm 13, said arm having an insert to of insulating material wherewith the contact plate is adapted to engage, to prevent any possible short circuiting. rod 42 is shown a secured, by a thumb nut 48, to the forward end of the strip 20, and said rod extends downward and toward one side and then directly beneath the contact plate 38. lit will be explained at this time that when the outer end of the rocker arm 13 is elevated, its insert d0 of insulating material engages the contact plate 38 and raises it out of contact with the rod 4-2. When conditions are reversed and the forward end of the rocker arm swings downward, it is moved entirely out of engagement with the contact plate 38, permitting said plate to rest upon the rod 412.

As will be seen presently, the forward end of the rocker arm 13 is lowered when the electromagnet 5 is energized, and upon referring to Fig. 3, where the valve 18 is shown in section, it will be seen that such a movement of the bar closes the valve. This movement of the rocker arm is reversed by a spring 50 which has its lower end secured to the rocker arm, and its upper end anchored to a screw eye 51 which passes freely through an aperture in a plate 52, that extends beyond the forward end of the shelf 2, and in substantially the vertical serve to clamp the screw in various admenace plane of the rocker arm 13. The screw 51 is adjustable within the arm by means of knurled nuts 53, one of which is applied to the screw on each side of the plate 52 and justed positions. By this means, the tension of the spring 50 may be varied and rendered suficiently powerful to open the valve 18, and at the same time permit the mechanism to respond to the magnet 5, when the latter is energized.

l3 represents a battery, and T a thermostat of any approved type which may, in the installation which I have in mind in the present instance, be placed in a part of the building remote from that wherein the heating plant is located, and the temperature of which it is desired to maintain within a fixed number of degrees.

t represents the vibrating element of the thermostat and is supported rigidly'from the base i. A contact point H, which may be adjustable, rises from the base in operative relation to one side of the free end of the vibrating element 25, while a similar contact point t is likewise supported on the opposite side of the free end of said vibrating element. The contact point 25 will represent the side to which the vibrating element of the thermostat swings when the 95 temperature rises, and is consequently designated high, while the opposite contact point will represent the low side of the thermostat, as indicated in the drawing. The contact point of the high side of the thermostat, is connected, through the wire a, to a binding post 55, carried by the shelf 2, and this binding post has electrical connect-ion, through the wire a with that end of the winding of the magnet 5, opposite the one represented by the wire 27. The contact point 25 or the low side of the thermostat, has connection, through the wire a with a binding post 56, located alongside the binding post 55, and the binding post 56 has electrical connection with one end of the winding of the magnet 31, through the wire a The opposite end of the winding has electrical connection, through the wire a, with the binding post that is formed by the upper end of the shank 35, of the member 3a, which depends from the shelf 2 and has the contact plate 38 connected to its lower end. The outer end of the strip 20 has a wire a connected to 120 it, by the knurled nut 43, that is threaded upon the upper end of the rod 42, the construction thereby constituting a binding post. The wire a leads to one side of the battery B, while the opposite side of the 125 battery has connection, through the wire a with the vibrating element t of the thermostat.

The operation of the device is obvious from the foregoing construction. The con- 130 menace dition of the parts, as they are illustrated in. the drawing, indicates that the supply of gas through the pipe 19 is cut ed by reason of the valve 18 being closed and consequently the temperature of the air surrounding the thermostat is falling. When it has reached a sufiiciently low degree to cause the vibratin element 23 of the thermostat to contact with the low side or contact point 23 thereof, a circuit is established from one side of the battery through the wire a, contacting members of the thermostat and thence through the wires a and a to the winding of the magnet 31, from where the current continues on through the wire a, member 34, contact plate 38, rod 42, and wire a. to the opposite side of the battery. The magnet 31 having been energized, attracts the spring arm 30, which constitutes its armature, and the free end of the arm engages the head 21 of the strip 20 and moves the upper end of the strip forward from beneath the armature plate 6, permitting such plate to descend, at the same time moving the strip 20 into engagement with the contact point of the strap 25, where it is now held'by the armature plate 6. Upon the release of the armature plate 6, the spring 50 is permitted to elevate the free end of the rocker arm 13 and open the valve 18, whereupon gas will flow to the burner of the heating plant, with the result that the temperature of the room wherein the thermostat is located, will rise.

Attention is called to this point, that just .as soon as the magnet 31 has performed its function of releasing the plate 6, and the rocker arm 13 has been raised by the spring 50, the contact plate 38 is removed from the rod 42, and the circuit is broken, wherefore no more current is used than is actually required to operate the mechanism.

It will be assumed, now, that the temperature has raised sufficiently to cause the vibrating element of the thermostat to engage the high side, or contact point t thereof. Current will now flow from one side of the battery, through the wire a, the contacting elements of the thermostat, the wire a'-,bind ing post 55, and wire a to the winding of the magnet 5. Thence the current continues through the wire 27, strap 25, strip 20 and wire a to the opposite side of the battery. The magnet 5 having thus been energized, attracts its armature 6, elevating the inner end of the rocker arm 13 and swinging the forward end of it downward to close the valve 18.

As in .the former case, the. circuit is immediately broken upon the operation of the mechanism, for the upper end of the strip 20 immediately withdraws from the contact point of the strap 25, and takes up its position beneath the armature plate 6, acting as a detent to retain said plate in its elevated position. At the same moment, contact is reestablished between the contact plate 38 and th'e rod 4-2, preparatory to the repetition of the former operation of the device.

To vary the extent of oscillation of the body of the valve 18, the lower ends of the links 16 are adjustable toward and from the outer end of the lever 17, and such adjustment is accomplished by inserting the pin 57, which passes through the links 16, through any one of a series of holes 58, in the lever. Also, the extent to which the valve may be closed, should it be desired to corfstantly maintain it open to some degree, may be regulated by shifting the pin 57 to the appropriate ones of the holes 59, in the links 16.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination with a valve or the like, of an actuating member operatively connected thereto and movable to effect two positions of the valve, means for-moving the member in one direction, a detent for holding the member in such position, an electromagnetic device for withdrawing the detent from holding position, means for moving the actuating member in opposition to the aforesaid means, and a pair of contact members that normally tend to engage one of said contact members extending into the path of movement of the actuating member and arranged to be engaged and moved thereby out of contact with the other when the actuating member is moved by the last mentioned means, one of said contact members being in circuit with the winding of said electromagnetic device.

2. The combination with a valve or the like, of an actuating member operatively contact element, an electric contact member in circuit with the Winding of the electromagnet and in a posit-ion to be engaged by the detent when the same is withdrawn from cotiperation with the armature, a second electromagnet, an armature therefor which engages the detent and is adapted, when its magnet is energized, to withdraw the detent from armature holding position and into engagement with the contact member, a pair of contact members carried by the aforesaid support and tending normally to engage, one of said contact members overlying the valve actuating member, and means for moving the valve actuating member in opposition to the first mentioned electromagnet and into a position to separate the last mentioned contact members, one of said pair of contact members being in circuit with the winding of the second electromagnet.

3. The combination with a valve or the like, of an actuating member operatively connected thereto, a support to which said member is pivoted intermediate its ends, an armature connected to one end of the member, an electromagnet for attracting said armature, a spring detent for coiiperation with and maintaining the armature in the position. to which it is attracted, said detent having a head of insulating material for engagement with the armature, the detent comprising an electric contact element, an electric contact member in circuit with the winding of the} electromagnet and in a position to be engaged by the detent when the same is withdrawn from cooperation with the armature, a second electromagnet, an armature therefor which engages'the head of the detent and is adapted, when its magnet is energized, to withdraw the detent from coiiperation with the armature and into engagement with the contact member, a pair of contact members carried by the aforesaid support and tending normally to engage, one of said contact members overlying the valve actuating member, said valve actuating member carrying an insert of insulating material wherewith said contact member engages, and means for moving the valve actuating member in opposition to the first mentioned electromagnet and into a position to separate the last mentioned contact members, one of said pair of contact members being in circuit with the winding of the second electromagnet, the last mentioned means comprising a spring, a screw to which said spring is connected, said screw being adjustably sustained by a portion of the aforesaid support.

4. The combination with a valve or the like, of an actuating member operatively connected thereto and movable to effect tWu' positions of the valve, means for moving the member in one direction, a detent for holding the member in such position, an electromagnetic device for withdrawing the detent from holding position, adjustable tension means for moving the actuating member in opposition to the aforesaid means, and a, pair of contact members that normally tend to engage, one of said contact members constituting a spring which extends into the path of movement of the actuating member and arranged to be engaged and moved thereby out of Contact with the other when the actuating member is moved by the last mentioned means, one of said contact members being in circuit with the winding of said electromagnetic device.

5.-Mechanism of the character set forth comprising a plate, a shelf extending at substantially right angles therefrom, a bracket supported by the plate and spaced from the shelf, an electro-magnet suspended from the bracket, an armature movably supported from the bracket in operative relation to the magnet, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the shelf, means connecting one end of the lever to the armature whereby the lever will be rocked in one direction upon the energization of the aforesaid magnet, adjustable tension means for rocking the lever in opposition to the magnet, a pair of contact members supported by the shelf and normally tending to engage, one of said members consisting of a spring tongue which extends into the path of movement of the lever and 1 with the other of the aforesaid pair of contact members, and a contact member in circuit with the first mentioned electro-magnet and supported by the aforesaid bracket in a position to be engaged by the detent when the same is moved by the second mentioned armature.

6. Mechanism of the character set forth comprising a plate, a shelf extending at right angles therefrom and having an aperture adjacent the plate, a bracket supported by the plate and spaced from the apertured portion of the shelf, a magnet depending from the bracket, rods extending downward from the bracket alongside the magnet, an armature plate movably supported by the rods in operative relation to'the magnet, a spring element extending from the vicinity of the armature downward through the aperture of the shelf and along the underneath surface thereof and protruding beyond the end of theshelf remote from the plate, the portion of said element adjacent the armature constituting a detent for holding the armature in attracted position, a bracket depending from the underneath side of the shelf, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said bracket, one end of said lever reposing beneath the aperture of the shelf, connections between the armature and the last mentioned end of the lever whereby the lever is rocked in one direction when the arllllli mature is attracted by its magnet, an adjustwhich normally tends to engage the first 1 mentioned contact member and which overenergized, the second electro-magnet being lies the lever and is adapted to be moved in circuit with the spring tongue contact thereby out of contact with the first contact member, and a contact member in circuit member when said lever is actuated by the with the first mentioned electro-magnet and 15 5 aforesaid tension means, an armature supsupported by the bracket in position to be ported in juxtaposition to the detent, a secengaged with the detent when the same is 0nd electro-magnet supported by the shelf withdrawn from armature holding position. in operative relation to the second armature In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my whereby said second armature may be actusignature.

l0 ated to withdraw the detent from holding position when the second electro-magnet is JOHN A. COLEMAN. 

